Even if only La Jette were included here I would want this. Highly influential, as well as being the basis for Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys, La Jette is a masterpiece of understated storytelling using the film medium in a way that still seems fresh almost fifty years later. A voiceover narration describes one mans journey through time that includes world war II, his own death, and his love for a mysterious woman he first encountered as a young child. Using mostly still frames during its 27 minute runtime La Jette masterfully works on the viewers emotions, letting them fill in the gaps as they are led from one resonant image to another experiencing love, loss, grief, apprehension and revelation along the way.
The feature length Sans Soliel defies narrative description. Safe to say it plays like a travelogue of Japan and Africa moving through narration and documentary footage in a way that inspires a mesmerizing sense of place and time. Rarely have I felt so compelled to seek out the rest of a directors oeuvre. This is the work of someone absolutely fascinated with the form as a means of communication rather than just mere technique demonstration.
The extras included here are solid but lack the addition of commentary and sadly Gilliam is nowhere to be seen . Extras include New, restored high-definition digital transfers, approved by director Chris Marker New video interview with filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin "Chris on Chris," a video piece on Marker by filmmaker and critic Chris Darke. The Criterion Collections La Jetee/Sans Soleil is simply a must buy for virtually any discriminating film lover.
I've been waiting for this.You cant read anything about 12 Monkeys without the mention of La Jette.I'll finally get to see what all the fuss is about.